- A
Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
This is the standard method to encrypt an existing RDS instance with minimal downtime.
- B
Enable encryption directly on the existing DB instance by modifying it.
Why wrong: RDS does not allow enabling encryption directly on an existing unencrypted instance.
- C
Use the AWS CLI command modify-db-instance with the --storage-encrypted flag.
Why wrong: The modify-db-instance command does not support enabling encryption on an existing instance.
- D
Create a read replica of the DB instance with encryption enabled, then promote it.
Why wrong: Read replicas inherit encryption from the source; you cannot enable encryption on a replica if the source is unencrypted.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is using Amazon RDS for MySQL and needs to encrypt data at rest for an existing DB instance. Which approach meets this requirement with minimal downtime?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
Option B is correct because enabling encryption on an existing RDS instance requires a snapshot copy with encryption and then restoring it, which is the standard method with minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because you cannot enable encryption directly on the instance. Option C is wrong because RDS does not support enabling encryption via the ModifyDBInstance API directly. Option D is wrong because creating a read replica with encryption still requires a snapshot restore for the primary.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
Why this is correct
This is the standard method to encrypt an existing RDS instance with minimal downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable encryption directly on the existing DB instance by modifying it.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not allow enabling encryption directly on an existing unencrypted instance.
- ✗
Use the AWS CLI command modify-db-instance with the --storage-encrypted flag.
Why it's wrong here
The modify-db-instance command does not support enabling encryption on an existing instance.
- ✗
Create a read replica of the DB instance with encryption enabled, then promote it.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas inherit encryption from the source; you cannot enable encryption on a replica if the source is unencrypted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The modify-db-instance command does not support enabling encryption on an existing instance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot. — Option B is correct because enabling encryption on an existing RDS instance requires a snapshot copy with encryption and then restoring it, which is the standard method with minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because you cannot enable encryption directly on the instance. Option C is wrong because RDS does not support enabling encryption via the ModifyDBInstance API directly. Option D is wrong because creating a read replica with encryption still requires a snapshot restore for the primary.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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